[2015/07/28] Lawmakers lash out at gov’t over Korea-Japan pact

[lancelot]

Lawmakers lash out at gov’t over Korea-Japan pact

Bipartisan lawmakers, in a rare display of unity, lashed out at the government over last month’s attempted signing of a military intelligence sharing agreement with Japan, during an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Thursday.

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin were all called in for questioning.

Tension was high as Prime Minister Kim in an earlier parliamentary session Wednesday denied an accusation from lawmakers that the pact was “secretly” passed during a Cabinet meeting on June 26.

The government has come under criticism for attempting to deal with the agreement swiftly without issuing any notice before the prearranged signing date of June 29. Prime Minister Kim explained the move was part of “diplomatic practice” to not reveal the contents of the pact and a “promise with our Japanese counterparts to finalize the issue by June.”

In line with the Lee Myung-bak administration’s intention to push ahead with the pact, Prime Minster Kim said “the agreement is not something that should be scrapped,” citing “the need to secure more information to deter North Korea’s provocations.”

The government’s clandestine passage at the Cabinet drew public criticism delaying the Korea-Japan military agreement on protecting classified information, also known as the General Security of Military Information Act (GSOMIA), which could have marked the first military pact with the former colonial ruler.

“Looking at how the pact was handled... I felt the nation’s control tower of foreign affairs and security was not working well,” said Rep. Shim Yoon-joe, a foreign affairs committee member of the ruling Saenuri Party. “I am also worried we are beginning to take part in the Washington-Tokyo-Seoul trilateral cooperation led by the United States to contain China.”

“The government’s procedural flaws and inappropriate response to the criticism prompted public distrust of the pact,” said Rep. Yoo Ki-june, a three-term Saenuri Party member.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) called on the prime minster to resign from the post taking responsibility for approving the pact behind closed doors and increasing tension on the Korean peninsula.

The DUP Tuesday submitted a parliamentary motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister Kim regarding the issue.

“The government knew about public resistance before the signing but still went on to push for the deal in a clandestine manner,” said Rep. Lee Jong-kul, a four-term-lawmaker of the DUP. “The prime minister should step down for having done that.”

Rep. Baek Kun-ki of the DUP also questioned the effectiveness of signing the pact citing that there was no improvement in intelligence sharing with the six nations that have signed a GSOMIA under the Lee administration, and called for the pact to be scrapped.

Seoul has signed bilateral intelligence pacts with 23 other countries, including the United States and Australia.

Experts say signing of the Korea-Japan GSOMIA is unlikely, at least under the current administration, as lawmakers step up to capitalize on anti-Japanese public sentiment ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election.

1. Do you agree on a military intelligence sharing agreement with Japan?
2. why do you think Korea government attempted to sign the agreement secretly?

3. Do you think this happening can affact the presidential election?

4. What’s your idea about that the relations between S.korea and Japan is important to strengthen national security problems?

5. What if the USA Gov’t pushes us to make the agreement, what should we do?